Benefits of "Failure"

Wow it has been forever since I have been here. Anyhoo..... 


Yesterday afternoon, a very good friend came by to check up on me. With a glass of wine in my hand and a beer in his, chilaxing in my garden. I was sharing and taking stock of my latest failure.

After listing silently to my Blah blah blah's of woe is me dramatics!! He told me a funny story.

Friend: When I went for my drivers licence. I was so confident, that I would pass. So when I failed, I cried because being good at everything and not knowing what it felt like to fail. But that experience, prepared me for the real world. A interview not going well or not passing my module at university.

This left me smiling and I laughed my first real laugh in a while. It also left me thinking of the definition of "Failure" We live in a competitive society that has big winners and big losers. 
Educators, motivation experts, life coaches, sport psychologists and other mentors mainly teach us how to approach success, how to be winners. Few teach us a much more valuable lesson. How to cope with failure.


The definition of "Failure"

 1.lack of success.

synonyms:

lack of success, non-success, non-fulfillment, defeat,collapse,foundering, misfiring,coming to nothing, falling through;

(Rewind Three weeks back 08 Nov 20014) ZZZZZZZZZZZoooooop - sound effect

The Ultimate Pamper Party. It was meant me a day of Sun, Laughter and Pampering.The day started with a small storm in a tea cup and it spilled over to a massive Natural Disaster!!! Me in the eye of the storm, with a WTF!!!! look on my face. Then came the WAVE of Angry bad reviews and emails. Some remarks were honest and constructive criticism.Then there were those remarks, that felt like a mob STOMPING on me.

I wanted this event to be SPECTACULAR!!! My Mother came all the way from Gauteng to see her daughters proud moment and in my mind,I can still see the picture of her soft sad eyes, sitting on a bench at the back of the restaurant looking on at my disaster around her. Above everything I wanted to make my family PROUD!!!

Everything I worked towards these past two years was for nothing. I was a nothing and I had nothing. Souletu Mobile Spa was my everything and although many people did not believe in it, I did!!! Now I MURDERED it, with a stupid once off event. Made myself look like a fool in front of so many people. The months of planning, all the late nights and no sleep it was all for nothing. I failed!!!! I am a FAILURE!!!


(Fast forward back to 29 Nov 2014 Chilaxing under the trees ) 
ZZZZTZZZZZZZZTZTZT -sound effect

Friend: So you apologized, keep your promise made to the guest. Now focus on the PRO's of your failure.  

*Pro 1. I now know what went wrong and with this knowledge my next event will      be SPECTACULAR!!!
*Pro 2. I get to meet the guest on a one on one basis and hopefully develop a lasting relationship. 
*Pro 3. I get to share my experience and help people make their event successful
*Pro 4. The most important above all, I found my VOICE!!! 

People who fail repeatedly develop persistence in the face of difficulties.

Never underestimate the magical properties of failure. It rewires the brain and gets the creative juices flowing. I am now more Motivated to make Souletu a brand I will be proud of. 

Embrace Failure (http://www.boxingscene.com/motivation/2603.php) 

Going through failure narrows down the possible approaches to success. 

Each failed experiment brings them a little closer to revolutionary breakthroughs. 

Failure reveals our ability. You'll never know how much weight you can lift until you reach an amount you can't. 

Failure strengthens our character. 

Failure inspires us. When we don't let discouragement hold us back, failure makes our desire burn hotter. Often this inspiration is a wish to avoid another failure.

Failure inspires others. Leaders must take risks. Even when they don't succeed, their courage can still make a difference.

Failure is better than regret.At least when we fail, we know. Not trying at all leaves us wondering.

My last Blah Blah Blah, to you. You are stronger than you know. The Universe, God, Buddha, Spaghetti Monster or Cloud Man. (which ever you believe in) Would never put something in your path that he,she or it knew you cant OVER COME. Never doubt or allow others to make you doubt your own ability and strength. 

Thank you to my friends and my family for being there for me. For getting me out of bed after a week and arming me with the tools, to build a better and more Fabutastic me!!!!

Singing: I can see clearly now the rain is gone... Skip Track 

Singing: I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose Fire away, fire away Ricochet,You shoot me down but I won't fall I am TITANIUM!!!

Just Keep Swimming... many thx!

So my last post was the "Diaries of the Drunken Masseuse"
What did I say?  I'm going to "Diaries my Adventure, My Journey"... Mother Huffer I think that Masseuse was out of her mi-iieend. So enthusiastic about the new beginnings ...Awww !!!

Wow since then my new adventure has been...hmmm it has been... Sigh...

There is nothing to describe what these last 7 months were like!!Starting a business from the ground with next to nothing capital,no alternative income and still having day to day expenses. Please oh Please don't forget two cats to support! It has been a Mind F**k of note!!! 

But the reward of seeing my hard work, has been the best and such a wonderful in-describable feeling. What has topped that feeling,is introducing my hard work to people and they love it !!They see the potential I did not. So proud of myself for sticking through all this Crap and not giving up on my dream. 

My goal is not to be a millionaire!! I enjoy what i do,this is my passion. My goal is to make my dream come true,to expand my brand. My goal is to finally say to myself, you have achieved "Something"something wonderful, something I believe in.
 
I was told, this is the easy part and my journey is only beginning, there are still so many mountains and oceans and Crap traps, I need to cross. With a glass of wine in my hand I say... Bring it the F**K on,Bring on those #!Mother Huffen oceans and esp the Crap traps!!! I will show you, Ass crack .com!!

                             

Many times I thought "Lynne Just give up!! Except the fact that you failed, except that you have no confidence in what you are doing" But there were people around me, I did not want to disappoint. They had invested just as much, emotion and effort into making this my reality. There is nothing tangible in this world, I could give them to show how great-full and how much appreciation I have for them. Here is a Shout Out You!!!

Ting Ting - I am so very grateful, to you. Yes i forced myself on you, by constantly inviting you to tea at work. You have become, like a sister to me. Thank you so so so very much for all your confidence in my dream,for being such a fundamental force and for kicking my backside along the way. Most of all Thank you for your OVER THE TOP (qa) expertise!!! Thank you,Thank you a million times to you and Henry!!! (Be nice to him)  

Wendy - Thank you always for being a soundboard and swopping advise. Most of all for the motivation.

Craig - I'm so grateful for your advise and encouragement, at a time when i gave up!!! That conversation gave me hope, when i saw none!!! What happened soon after still feels like a Miracle  

Chimba - Thank you for keeping me sane,and keeping me well fed! Thank you so much for giving up so much of your time, esp your holiday to be my technician... Your words are like an irritating fly in my head "what you put in,you will get out" 

Kersia - Thank you so much for my site and all the time and effort. ( I owe you, didn't forget!)

My Crazy Peeps - Thank you,Thank you,Thank you, for all your support  - (Always beside you, so true!!!)

Tinyiko - Thank you, for being my guiney pig, you planted the seed. It is starting to sprout.


Emma -  Thank you, for everything you put in, for helping me build the foundation and your continues support from the side lines.
 

• Most of all Thank you to my Parents!!! Thank you, for all your Love,encouragement and for believing in me.